COUNTY FAIRS ARE THE PLACE TO BE FOR FAMILY FUN Summer in Iowa is all about the fair!

Sweet corn, cheesecake, watermelon, hot dogs, funnel cakes, mini doughnuts… but it’s not about the food. Really, fairs are NOT about food! They are about families and fun, kids and animals, wholesome, clean, fun.

It’s fair season in Iowa, and one does not need to drive to Des Moines, fight the traffic, experience sticker shock at the prices, and all that. Nope, it all begins right here, in small town Iowa with county fairs galore coming up throughout Central Iowa.

There is so much happening at all of the fairs. You really don’t need to know the difference between a barrow and a gilt to enjoy watching the kids at 4-H and FFA shows show off their livestock. The kids know the difference, they know their animals because they have been working with them all summer long. At any of the fairs, look for sewing exhibits, woodworking, and STEM projects galore. There will be commercial exhibits with plenty of swag, and yes, food.

by lori berglund

Here’s a look at just a few of the highlights coming up at county fair season gets underway.

CALHOUN COUNTY FAIR – JULY 5 - 9

The Calhoun County Fair is set for July 5 – 9 at the county fairgrounds in Rockwell City.

Always a favorite to kick off the fair is the annual parade beginning at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 5. The evening continues with the Miss Calhoun County contest, followed by the Little Miss Calhoun County contest. The beer garden will open for the evening at 9 p.m., with a “Glow Run” at the Expo Center at 9:30 p.m., followed by a Glow Foam party. All the traditional fair fun continues throughout the fair, from 4-H and FFA shows, to commercial exhibits and more. Scott Amusements will provide the fun on the midway.

Thursday, July 6, offers the tasty event of Calhoun County’s best cheesecake contest at 6:30 p.m.

A free-will donation is all it takes to enjoy the IRR Youth Rodeo at 7 p.m. Be sure to stay around for an outdoor movie, weather permitting, at 9:30 p.m. But, if it should rain, the farmers probably won’t mind!

Friday, July 7, is Farm Bureau Day at the fair. Farm Bureau and Calhoun County Pork Producers will serve a pork barbecue at noon. The day wraps up with a truck pull at 7 p.m.

Not to be outdone, the Calhoun County Cattlemen will serve a noon beef barbecue on Saturday, July 8. For some simple fair fun, don’t miss Bingo with the Women’s Auxiliary from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday.

The grand finale on Saturday will be Figure 8 races, starting at 7 p.m., followed by fireworks and Danny Grause.

Layne Condon

Sunday, July 9, is Family Fun Day. There will be an antique tractor ride beginning at 10 a.m. and an antique tractor pull on the track at the same time.

The fair wraps up with the cookout contest at 11 a.m., Sunday. There will be horseshoe pitching at 1 p.m. and another foam party by Hometown Heroes, also at 1 p.m.

HAMILTON COUNTY FAIR – JULY 25 - 30

The Hamilton County Fair kicks off from July 25 – July 30. It all starts with one of the biggest fair parades around, stepping off through Webster City and out to the fairgrounds beginning at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 25. Scott Amusements will be on the midway and commercial exhibits will be open. The evening caps off with Red Dirt Renegades at 7:30 p.m. on the Decker Trucking Stage.

Throughout the fair, look for great livestock shows, 4-H and open class exhibits. The highlight for Wednesday, July 26, will be the crowning of the 2023 Hamilton County Fair Queen, 6 p.m. at the grandstand. Following the coronation, Royce Johns and Fat Tuesday will be performing at 7 p.m. on the Decker stage.

Thursday, July 27, starts off bright and early with breakfast served by the Hamilton County Fair Foundation from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Crestview Nursing and Rehab tent. Daily events include a pedal pull, Farmer Phil Show, and more.

The famous Hamilton County Speedway dirt track comes alive with Thursday Night Thunder at 6:30 p.m. to cap off the evening.

The popular Bucket/Bottle calf show is back on Friday, July 28, at 5 p.m. at the showring. At 6:30 p.m., enjoy hot laps and figure 8 racing, plus ATV races. The Tank Anthony Band will be performing at 7 p.m., followed by The Punching Pandas.

Breakfast is back from the Fair Foundation from 7 a.m. to 9 :30 a.m. on Saturday, July 29. Saturday also brings the cookout king contest and pork loin contest.

For family fun, don’t miss the Bill Riley Talent Show at 4 p.m. Saturday on the Ed Prince Stage. Wrapping it up that evening will be hot laps on the speedway at 6:30 p.m. for kids’ night at the races. Be sure to stay around for The Sons of Gladys Kravis performing at 8 p.m. on Decker Stage.

The community is invited to worship together with a service by the Webster City Ministerial Association, Faith at the Fair, at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, July 30, at the Iowa Corn Trailer. All the exhibits and fun continue on Sunday, wrapping up with the Eve of Destruction, 5:30 p.m. at the grandstand.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY FAIR – JULY 25 - 31

The Humboldt County Fair is slated for July 25 – 31 at the county fairgrounds in Humboldt. Tuesday, July 25, will be a busy day with 4-H exhibit and club booth judging. Major events get underway in a sky-high way on Wednesday, July 26.

Helicopter rides will be offered beginning 4 p.m. and continuing until dark. The cost is $20 and up, depending on the duration of the ride. For those who don’t want to get quite that high, the carnival opens on the midway at 5 p.m.

The Humboldt County Fair Board will offer a free watermelon feed from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday. The moment many will be waiting for starts at 7 p.m. in the grandstand with the Little Miss and Mr. contest, followed by the crowning of the 2023 Humboldt County Fair Queen. showring.

Friday, July 28, brings the truck and tractor pull to the grandstand, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Another great crowd is expected on Saturday, July 29, with a country concert featuring Tyler Farr and Jake Worthington beginning at 7 p.m. at the grandstand.

The public is welcome to gather for ‘Cowboy Church’ at 11 a.m. Sunday, July 30, at the South Event Center. Family friendly Sunday continues at 2 p.m. with the Bill Riley Talent Show.

Sunday wraps up with the Tough Truck show at the grandstand at 7 p.m., and the chainsaw art auction at intermission, approximately 8 p.m.

Monday, July 31, is a quiet but important day at the fair with the auction of fair livestock in the showring beginning at 8:30 a.m.

POCAHONTAS COUNTY – JULY 13 – 17

The Pocahontas County Fair will delight one and all from July 13 – 17. Family fun is the name of the game, 4-H and FFA exhibits, livestock shows, and much more.

Starting it off on Thursday, July 13, will be a Community Band performance at 5 p.m., accompanied by a tenderloin supper from 5 to 7 p.m. That all builds up to the crowning of the 2023 Pocahontas County Fair Queen and Little Miss Pocahontas at 6 p.m.

Friday, July 14, will feature free ice cream, courtesy of Farm Credit Services, from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Family Fun night on this day will feature a bounce house the Bubbler from 5 to 8 p.m.

Free watermelon starts it off from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 15, sponsored by Farm Bureau. There will be a beef steak supper from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Don’t miss the evening’s entertainment with Lizzy, comedy and stage hypnosis at 7 p.m.

Sunday, July 16, will start with a pancake breakfast, time to be determined. After a full day at the fair, don’t miss the turkey tenderloin supper served by the fair board from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Capping off the evening on Sunday will be a Teen Fun Night, with an escape room, yard games, and food, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The fair wraps on Monday, July 17, with the annual livestock auction beginning at 8:30 a.m.

SAC COUNTY – JULY 25 - 29

The Sac County Fair kicks off from July 25 – 29 at the county fairgrounds, across from the Chautauqua Pavilion in Sac City.

All are invited to gather at the grandstand for the National Anthem at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 25, for the official opening of the fair. The evening will continue with the Little Miss and Mr. pageant at 6:15 p.m., followed by the crowning of the 2023 Sac County Fair Queen at 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, July 26, brings mutton busting to the grandstand at 6 p.m. If that’s not wild enough, carnival rides open at 6:30 p.m. There will be a Quilt of Valor presentation at 7 p.m., also at the grandstand. The evening wraps up with the Barnes PRCA rodeo at 7:30 p.m.

Senior Day is Thursday, July 27, at the fair. There will be a quilt race at 10 a.m., a petting zoo, chainsaw artist and all the traditional fair fun. Seniors can enjoy free ice cream from 12:30 to 2 p.m.

The evening’s big entertainment will the Outlaw Tractor Pull at 7 p.m. in grandstand. Be sure to stay around for DJ Duane Murley in the beer garden at 9 p.m.

Friday, July 28, bring the buck skinners camp from 1 to 8 p.m. near the gazebo. The Iowa favorite Bill Riley Talent Show is set for 5 p.m. Cap off the evening on Friday with Figure 8 races at 7 p.m., and Duane Murley, back in the beer garden at 9 p.m.

Kids Day will be Saturday, July 29, with family friendly fun all day long. There will be a bike rodeo at 11 a.m., farmers market and vendor fair. A free kids lunch will be served at noon. Sign-up begins at 12:30 p.m. for a sanctioned pedal power pull at 1 p.m.

The fair wraps up with Eddie Montgomery performing at the grandstand. Cory Waller will open the show beginning at 8 p.m.

WEBSTER COUNTY – JULY 12 - 16

The Webster County Fair is slated for July 12 – 16 at the fairgrounds just

WRIGHT COUNTY FAIR – JULY 12 - 16

Come early on Wednesday, July 12, for the official flag raising to open the annual fair. It will be a busy day, highlighted by the King and Queen contest at 7 p.m., plus the Little Miss and Mr. contest and style show in the east auditorium.

Iron Cowgirl will be featured at 7 p.m., along with Bob Bohm Survivor and Otter Adventure at 8:30 p.m., There will be an outdoor movie at 9:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 13, is Kids Day, featuring all kinds of family fun. There will be a Jumpin’ Jamboree at 10:45 a.m. and a “Not Old Enough for 4-H” party at 11 a.m.

One day isn’t enough for Kids Day in Webster County, and so the fun for the kiddies continues on Thursday, July 13. The Bill Riley Talent Show is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, followed by IRR Youth Rodeo at 7 p.m., as well as Figure 8 races.

Friday, July 14, features Barnyard Olympics at 2 p.m. Fuel-up after the ‘Olympics’ with a pulled pork dinner at 3 p.m. There will be a tractor show at 5 p.m. Grandstand entertainment on Friday will feature the Tuff Truck show.

The fun keeps on going on Saturday, July 15, with a watermelon feed from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be a kids Pedal Pull at 1 p.m., and an antique tractor pull, also at 1 p.m., with free admission.

Great fair food will always be available, including a sweet corn feed at 5 p.m., for just a free-will donation. Also at the time, the Dayton Tigers 4-H Club will be selling ice cream.

Jessica McClintock takes to the stage in concert at 5 p.m. Saturday. The day will also feature an All Iowa Trivia Contest at 5:30 p.m. in the east auditorium. The evening wraps up with an open truck pull at 6 p.m.

Sunday, July 16, bring the United All Stars performing at 11:45 a.m. There will be a Parade of Champions dinner at 5 p.m., by invitation only, and the annual Parade of Champions at 6:30 p.m.

The Wright County Fair will run July 12 – 16 at the county fairgrounds in Eagle Grove. Scott Amusements will provide the fun on the midway, with 4-H, and FFA shows and exhibits, and special events throughout the fair.

It all starts on Wednesday, July 12, with a 6 p.m. parade through Eagle Grove, followed by a free watermelon feed in Greenwood Park at 7 p.m. The main program for the evening begins at 7:30 p.m. with recognition of the parade grand marshal, scholarship recipients, Little Miss and Mr. contest.

The big finale of the night on Wednesday will be the crowing of the 2023 Wright County Fair Queen on the James R. Johnson stage.

Thursday, July 13, brings the Annual Wright County Fair Supper, with serving beginning at 5:30 p.m., free with a grandstand button the Johnson stage. Enjoy some great local entertainment with the Bill Riley Talent Show, also beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the stage area.

Thursday also brings the Wright Rodeo beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the grandstand.

Major attractions on Friday, July 14, will include a special honor celebration for veterans at 6 p.m. on the Johnson stage. All are invited to come and help offer thanks to veterans.

Grandstand entertainment on Friday will be the NTPA Truck and Tractor Pull at 7 p.m.

Saturday, July 15, will bring Black Hawk to the grand stand, with an opening performance by Farm Rock.

Community members are invited to an ecumenical worship service hosted by Grace Evangelical Free Church on the Johnson stage at 11 a.m. Sunday

Barrels and Bands wraps up the fair with a show at 7 p.m. Sunday in the grandstand. Be sure to stick around for a fireworks show to celebrate another great fair.